The Latest: Dunleavy notes support for Native women

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (dun’-LAY’-vee) says that as a father of three girls, his heart goes out to families who have lost loved ones to violence.

Dunleavy made the comment Thursday in response to a letter from a coalition of Alaska Native groups urging him to push for funding to investigate the death and disappearance of indigenous women.

Dunleavy says through a spokesman that “public safety in Alaska is broken and I am committed to fixing it.”

The request for funding comes amid a national crisis — the disappearances of hundreds of Native American and Alaska Native women and girls from across the country. Native women experience some of the highest rates of murder, sexual violence and domestic abuse.

Dunleavy spokesman Jeff Turner says the state Department of Public Safety will submit a recommendation on the issue at some point.

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1:15 p.m.

A coalition of Alaska Native groups is urging Gov. Mike Dunleavy to push for funding to investigate the death and disappearance of indigenous women.

The groups sent a letter Thursday to Dunleavy, who was sworn into office Monday. The letter says “it is imperative that we have a collective effort to address the safety of our people.”

The call for funding comes amid a national crisis — the disappearances of hundreds of Native American and Alaska Native women and girls from across the country. Native women experience some of the highest rates of murder, sexual violence and domestic abuse.

Dunleavy spokesman Jeff Turner says the governor received the letter. Turner says the state Department of Public Safety will submit a recommendation on the issue at some point.

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This story has been corrected to fix the spelling of Dunleavy throughout.

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